Leica M-A hotshoe questions

[airfang]

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I got the match technical hotshoe cover: https://www.popflash.com/mtechLEICAcap

for M6 and M3, but when I tried it on the M-A, it seemed really tight and I didn't want to force it in (afraid of it getting stuck there).

So my questions to M-A owners:

- if you do own other Ms, according to your experience, is M-A's hotshoe tighter than other Ms?

- do you use some custom hotshoe cover on your M-A

Thanks!

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[semi-ambivalent]

4 hours ago, airfang said:

I got the match technical hotshoe cover: https://www.popflash.com/mtechLEICAcap

for M6 and M3, but when I tried it on the M-A, it seemed really tight and I didn't want to force it in (afraid of it getting stuck there).

So my questions to M-A owners:

- if you do own other Ms, according to your experience, is M-A's hotshoe tighter than other Ms?

- do you use some custom hotshoe cover on your M-A

Thanks!

Hi airfang!

I have M3, MP, and M-A, and they all have varying tightness on the flash shoe. I only use external viewfinders on them but the thought of looking down and seeing the VF gone is sometimes a worry. My M-A is tightest but it's new. Been trying to find which show/VF combo is the most loose and then shim with tape from there. Why do you feel a need for a hot shoe 'cover'? By using a cover when there's no flash and a flash when there's a flash you're keeping the shoe springs compressed all the time. Why would you want that? The shoe's not ugly, why cover it? I'm confused.

Good luck.

[wattsy]

Seems to be a recent fad.

[logan2z]

23 minutes ago, wattsy said:

Seems to be a recent fad.

Never heard of it.  I like my hotshoe buck naked.

[airfang]

On 12/7/2018 at 8:29 PM, semi-ambivalent said:

Hi airfang!

I have M3, MP, and M-A, and they all have varying tightness on the flash shoe. I only use external viewfinders on them but the thought of looking down and seeing the VF gone is sometimes a worry. My M-A is tightest but it's new. Been trying to find which show/VF combo is the most loose and then shim with tape from there. Why do you feel a need for a hot shoe 'cover'? By using a cover when there's no flash and a flash when there's a flash you're keeping the shoe springs compressed all the time. Why would you want that? The shoe's not ugly, why cover it? I'm confused.

Good luck.

Thanks for the reply!

I just felt a cover would prevent dust from collecting in the hotshoe, which can be very hard to clean.

I didn't think of the spring part though, that's a good point, just checked my M3, it doesn't have the spring on the side as the M-A.

Glad the tightness of the hotshoe is expected :D

[250swb]

14 hours ago, wattsy said:

Seems to be a recent fad.

Too much spare time if you ask me.

[a.noctilux]

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6 hours ago, airfang said:

Thanks for the reply!

I just felt a cover would prevent dust from collecting in the hotshoe, which can be very hard to clean.

I didn't think of the spring part though, that's a good point, just checked my M3, it doesn't have the spring on the side as the M-A.

Glad the tightness of the hotshoe is expected

Don't worry for the dust on hot shoe of M-A.

Cleaning is just few seconds affair.

On newer digital (M10 in my case), I experienced some false contacts with Visoflex 020, as I didn't cover the hot shoe.

Now lesson learned and I cover the M10 contacts hidden under hot shoe.

Yes for the difference in construction of hot shoes in M3 and M-A:

M3 sports two very heavy duty springs below the "accessory shoe" that are as new in my 64 years old M3.

When pushed those springs remain firm = incredible overbuilding these old Leica M.

Same thing with the M3 rear door with it's two spring-catches.

 

[M.RB]

Who ever used a flash on an M-A?  

The hotshoe is to put the cardboard from the film canister or maybe a 21mm viewfinder?

I wouldn’t worry about dust. Cobwebs maybe...

[lucygoosey]

On 12/7/2018 at 10:29 PM, semi-ambivalent said:

Hi airfang!

I have M3, MP, and M-A, and they all have varying tightness on the flash shoe. I only use external viewfinders on them but the thought of looking down and seeing the VF gone is sometimes a worry. My M-A is tightest but it's new. Been trying to find which show/VF combo is the most loose and then shim with tape from there. Why do you feel a need for a hot shoe 'cover'? By using a cover when there's no flash and a flash when there's a flash you're keeping the shoe springs compressed all the time. Why would you want that? The shoe's not ugly, why cover it? I'm confused.

Good luck.

Spring do not degrade when stored compressed or uncompressed (within design forces) . They degrade through actuation